IS IT OK TO DOUBT?

IS IT OK TO DOUBT?

Matt 14:28-33

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Mark 9:23-24

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

          Peter walked on water! He was the only man who ever did except for Jesus. Yet Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus while he warmed his hands at the enemy’s fire. The question this morning is: “Is it OK to doubt?” The fact is that we all have doubt and faith issues. If we are told that it is NOT OK to doubt then we are tempted even further to simply lie about it. We are doubters.

          The transition from doubt to faith often requires some supernatural evidence. We call these miracles. In Mark 9, a there was a father whose son had been demon possessed since childhood! When asked if he believed the man responded honestly. He said that he did believe but that his belief was weak. Belief was mixed with doubt. Jesus seemed to understand the man’s doubt.

          We are called upon to believe some amazing things. The virgin birth of Jesus is an example and even Mary doubted. She said, “How can these things be seeing I know not a man?” The pregnancy would be a natural process with Mary experiencing a normal pregnancy. Only the conception would be a mystery. The labor and birth were normal and natural. The visit of the Wise Men, the angelic choir and a host of other things were a bit unusual. Doubt and faith seemed to coexist.

          More and more we are called upon to exercise faith. As we begin with little faith God gives us the grace to believe for more and more.

Dear Lord, I want to please you by being a man of faith. Help thou mine unbelief. AMEN